The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-26

He was off before I could make an,
, reply, and went on up stairs, laugbin
quietly at what | considered the neryou
fears Of tired out and naturally suspi
cious man.
On my sitting-room table / found
note reminding me of an important en-
gagenent in another part of the city. an,
left hurriedly To this day the janito
insists that left my door unlocked, bu
am positive that did not.
Not long lfter my departure, howeve,
he found itajar, looked carelessly through
the rooms, saw that was not there. ant
locked it Had he been more thorough
in his search he would doubtless hav'
saved me very strange experience.
1t was midnight when | returned u
my rooms. The gas was burning diml,
in the sitting-room. but the sleeping room
beyond it was in total darkness. Open
ing from the sleeping room was larg'
bath room, and adjoining this was larg'
clothes closet locked the door as usu
al, turned off the gas and went to bed, a
i frequently did, without striking ligh
in the sleeping room or opening tn,
doors leading to the bathroom and clos
ct. was tired, and fell asleep immedi
ately.
How long / slept soundly | canno
tell am utterly unable to describe th'
first sensations | experienced. Dimly
and afar off, | heard Dick Munsoni
voice, speaking as though in terrible
fear, or from an overpowering night
mare.
AT first the sounds came to me like
voice muffied by the walls of clos,
room, and conveyed to my mind no dis
tinct form of words. But the tone wa
one of warning, and told me as plainly
as words could have done that was il
deadly peril of some kind.
After a time the voice ceased and
heard, as plainly as now hear the rum
bic of wheels outside, the rapping OF /
private signal known only TO Dick anJ
myself, and used only in the bank wher
he desired to attract my attention toany
face or suspicious circumstance in from
of his window.
This was repeated several times
Then | heard the voice again, clear ano
distinct this time, as though a door OF
window had been opened in the room
from which il proceeded.
There was no mistaking the word:
this time heard them over and ovel
again, as one hears words in vivid
dreams
Lock the bathroom door, | cam
get that slouching figure out of my
mind ?
With the words came feeling which
/ ,nnot describe, but which you have
doubtless all experiencrd-a sensation oi
immediate personal danger coupled with
physical inability to control muscle
to meet it.
The words and the private signal al.
ternated many times, and then | heard a
crash-such crash as would follow the
falling of heavy window sash.
Absolute silence followed, and with
the silence came a sense of physical de
preston, as though a current of electrici
ty which had wrought my nerves to their
utmost tension had suddenly been with
drawn.
/ awoke instantly When l say
awoke. | mean that | awoke to con.
sciousness of the things Immediately
about me, for it is my beliefthat my men
tai condition previous TO that time can.
not be described by the word sleep.
/ heard the City Hall clock strike one
and tried to sleep again, but could not
do so.
Il could think of nothing but the
slouching figure had seen early in the
evening on the outer edge of the side
walk found it impossible to forget the
mysterious words warming me to lock the
bathroom door
| should have got out of bed and made
tour of the bathroom and closed it, but
it occurred to me it would be a rather ri.
diculous thing to do. Men who pride
themselves on practical turn of mind
dislike to do ridiculous things, even when
alone. Besides, notwithstanding the ef-
feet produced upon me by what | had
heard, regarded the matter as an unus-
ually clear-cut dream, and was not in the
least alarmed
The longer l lay awake the more
thoroughly did become convinced that
the nervous suspicious of the paying tel
Ter were alone responsible for my losing
a good hour of sleep, and / resolved to
make up for lost time as soon as possible
by turning over for another nap
If had not, as preliminary step to
the resolve so formed, raised myself in
bed and made great noise rearranging
my pillows, perhaps the most trying por-
ton of the nights experience would
have been spared me.
Be that as it may, the fact remains
that before | had arranged my pillows
my attention was diverted from my task
by three rather startling objects.
The first was dark-lantern pouring
its round red rays full in my face. The
second was an unusually long and unnat-
urally bright, self-eocking revolver loca-
ted within six inches of my NOSE. The
third was particularly villainous face,
with thick. black eyebrows running to-
gether above the nose.
Was frightened? Yes, but | scarce
ly think my fright took the usual form
| knew in an instant, as well as know
now, that il was not my life. nor the tri-
fling amount of money ne might find in
my room, what the intruder wanted. l
recognized his presence there as part of a
well-laid plan to rob the bank. The in
truder's first words confirmed my suspi-
cions
Get up and dress yourself, he said. in
a whisper. We want you at the bank
If you value your life, be quick about it
and make no noise
The mans arguments were unanswera-
BILE, and ! obeved.
You are to go with Inc to the bank,
he said, holding his weapon close to my
head as dressed and omen the yaulf